Carp hopes to hook on with Rangers in 2015

Of all the things a player has to worry about when switching teams, at least Mike Carp won’t have to worry about finding a place to live.

The newest member of the ever-changing Texas Rangers’ roster had recently moved to Keller, a possible by-product of the allure of not having to pay state income tax.

But Carp has a chance to catch another break the final two months of the season by showing that he can be a valuable member of manager Ron Washington’s bench in 2015.

Carp, who was acquired Sunday from Boston on a waiver claim, knows it, too.

“It’s a new opportunity, a fresh start. I can’t complain about that,” Carp said. “I’m going to try to help this team out the next few months and show them what I’ve got for next year.”

He slid right into the Rangers’ lineup Monday after reporting to the team, playing first base and batting fifth.

There wasn’t much playing time for Carp with the Red Sox this season, though he made a nice contribution from them in 2013 as they captured the World Series. But he had only 86 at-bats with Boston, batting .198 with no homers, and missed time with a crack in his right foot.

A left-handed hitter, Carp is hopeful that more regular playing time will get his bat going. He and J.P. Arencibia will likely form a platoon at first base, and Carp will also play in left field and at designated hitter.

“We’re going to get him out there when we can,” Washington said. “We’ll get him moving around and try to get his bat moving.”

The Rangers placed catcher Chris Gimenez on the paternity list, as he awaits the birth of his second child, to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for Carp.